Cruel Summer Review: Hostile Witness (Season 1 Episode 10)
We get answers to some of our most burning questions on Cruel Summer Season 1 Episode 10, “Hostile Witness.”
It’s set a high bar for itself in its debut season tackling important issues like grooming and sexual assault, the struggles of queer youth in the ’90s, race, and the complex nature of female relationships of all kinds.
“Hostile Witness” lives up to my expectations well enough for approximately 41 minutes. And then, with one flashback from 1944, falls unquestionably short of them.
The actual truth
The 1994 scene of Jeanette walking into Martin Harris’s house on a day that is not being scrutinized in court and clearly hearing Kate Wallis say her name and explain her circumstances exists because Cruel Summer needs a cliffhanger.
It’s not necessarily the worst ending possible — but it is a maddening one.
As someone who has worked hard not to label either Jeanette or Kate a villain for nine episodes and who also steers clear of conspiracy theories as best she can so that my brain does not fog while watching, I resent Cruel Summer for so clearly painting Jeanette as a villain in the last few minutes of the entire saga.
The scene in question is in 1994, so we can’t even wonder if she has earbuds in her ears, though that would be a moot point considering we clearly see Jeanette walk up to the basement door, consider turning the knob, and then smile.
My brain explodes every time I watch the scene and attempt to process it. The only explanation I can think of for the choice is that Cruel Summer needs to keep us hanging on for a potential Season 2, like I’ve said.
But despite what Jeanette’s lawyer says in the opening scene, the last minute really does regress the whole entire plot and turn it into a “she said/she said” situation that the audience now knows Jeanette is on the bad side of.
It’s so difficult to feel compassion for Jeanette now, and that sucks. (There is no eloquent way to write this feeling).
It also makes some of the other questions we have about the situation irrelevant. Why does Kate so fiercely come for Jeanette and so easily forgive Mallory?
The answer there is love. Plus, Mallory keeping quiet once she knows for sure that the back she watched make a phone call is Kate’s protects Kate.
Still, as they navigate a relationship together it might be an issue to talk to their therapist about in a joint session. But who cares what they do now? Jeanette is the monster.
Jeanette’s scene eating ice cream with Greg in the kitchen in the middle of the night is a sweet parallel to 1993 and Cruel Summer Season 1 Episode 1, “Happy Birthday, Jeanette Turner.” But who cares, Jeanette is a monster.
I hope Jeanette and Cindy repair their relationship and we get to see it on screen. But who cares, Jeanette is a monster.
We don’t see enough Derek at the end of the season. But who cares, his sister is a monster.
On one hand, it’s good to see Angela in the courtroom. On the other, her presence on the whole episode is wasted because she has no badass words of encouragement for Jeanette. But who cares, Jeanette is a monster.
Queer representation on Cruel Summer
I think I’ve made my point. So let’s back up to Mallory and Kate because Kallory is the best part of the episode.
There are hints that they will become a couple throughout Cruel Summer. A huge, sweet scene at the roller rink where we also see Jeanette and Jamie kiss (and happy for the last time in 1994) for example.
Or the more blatant clues that the Cruel Summer official Twitter account dropped like the parallel between the promise ring Jamie gives Kate on her birthday in 1993 and the ring pop she gets from Mallory in 1995.
Plus, there’s also the fact that Harley Quinn Smith confirmed that her character is queer on Instagram on June 2 in celebration of Pride Month.
There is also the fact that Mallory is pretty condescending to Jeanette and never seems to care but she owns up to trash-talking Kate at first and then pretty much idolizes her. Her initial hatred was probably just Mallory repressing a crush.
All of that said, Cruel Summer deserves kudos for the payoff. Too much queerbaiting happens on TV not to point out when a queer storyline that has a reason for developing slowly is told well and not just teasing the LBGTQIA+ community.
Plus, one of the smallest reveals of the episode is actually quite pivotal. We learn that Mallory is in the car Kate is dancing in front of in 1995 on Cruel Summer Season 1 Episode 2, “A Smashing Good Time.” She’s grappling with the fact that she’s developing feelings for someone she is also keeping a big secret from.
Also, it’s not the best idea to stop the car in the middle of the street, blast music, and dance in front of it but I digress.
Speaking of queer stories done well, we need to celebrate the fact that there is hope for Ben and Vince.
It’s really hard to believe that they haven’t seen each other or at least had a progressive conversation since the accident in 1994, but whatever because Jamie confronts Ben about how he has been treating Vince and all will be well soon.
It’s a shame these two are religated to C (?) plot when the whole trial is irrelevant and Jeanette is just a monster but it is what it is.
A house full of secrets
As frustrating as the last minute of “Hostile Witness” is Cruel Summer still tells one of the most complex stories on TV with great character development, internal conflict, and relationship development at its core.
I am mad at myself for expecting the “Anabelle” reveal to be a little bit better than the name of a gun.
Plus, it’s frustrating that Jeanette forgives Jamie so quickly for punching her in the face. It’s a strange message for Cruel Summer to send that it’s okay to go back to someone who has punched you. It does so well with other serious topics.
I do believe that Jamie is a good person who has had a hard life, though. The circumstances under which he punches Jeanette are extreme. But can we see him go through anger management and keep doing the work he needs to do to redeem himself in the future, please?
No one deserves an abusive partner. I don’t know the best way for Cruel Summer to prove that Jamie is a good man, but if she stays with him something needs to happen.
We can’t end this review without talking about everything that goes down in the basement.
Before Jeanette’s real truth is revealed, the scenes between she and Kate in Martin Harris’s house and the basement, in particular, are so satisfying.
Kate’s personality does not make as big of a leap from 1994 to 1995 as Jeanette’s does — but oh wow does Olivia Holt have more traumatic experiences to act out and she is brilliant.
She has to portray shock and terror in the basement in 1994 and that does not mean hysterical crying as she watches Martin put the gun to his head or as she lifts it up to shoot him when he fails to take his own life. She must be numb and that is difficult to portray.
It’s particularly impressive that her determination to shoot Martin is evident when Kate lifts the gun, and yet her sadness when he is dead and guilt for loving him is so evident on her face and easy to empathize with.
In 1995, we get a fleeting moment of genuine bonding between Kate and Jeanette when Kate confesses, “I’m the bad guy,” and Jeanette appears to genuinely support her and tell her she’s not to blame.
It’s also pretty easy to empathize with Jeanette’s explanation for her need for popularity after Kate goes missing. In this moment, Cruel Summer stays true to its theme of women supporting women (despite a few necessary exceptions).
Isn’t the future we are allowed to picture here awesome? Perhaps Kate and Jeanette will build an authentic bond. We don’t know how Kate feels about Mallory’s omission yet, but perhaps there is hope for one big mega-clique full of queer kids and awkward kids and jocks and the beautiful people.
We are so close to a really mature payoff for all Cruel Summer watchers — and it turns out Jeanette is a monster.
I’m frustrated, but of course I’ll tune in if there is more. What kind of psychological thriller would Cruel Summer be if Skylin were a utpoia?
Crime Scene Notes
- Jeanette is so creepy on “The Marsha Bailey Show” seriously — what else is she hiding that has nothing to do with Martin Harris?
- Turns out, Tanya and Nancy can meet up in 1995, but the peace we will feel about it won’t last.
- Cindy Turner is still the sanest human on this show, I’m sad we don’t see more of her. And she’s still right.
- More of Jamie’s home life Season 2, please! More Latinx representation.
- 1995 scenes are way too dark. It’s a wonder we see anything.
- Kate and Ashley! What is going to happen between the sisters?
- Also, Ashley and Derek won’t be hooking up in the near future and this is sad.
- The way Cruel Summer switches from the basement in 1995 to 1993 is so cool visually.
- So many tiny cliffs that I’m invested in. Too bad the huge one is such a regression.
- I just want to love everything about Cruel Summer and it has gone and made that hard.
- Let’s end on a positive note, though. Download Cruel Summer‘s whole soundtrack. It never missed.
- Also, “While You Were Sleeping!” I finally spotted a poster for a movie I adore!
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What did you think of this episode of Cruel Summer? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Cruel Summer airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on Freeform.
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Esme Mazzeo
Esme Mazzeo is a lifestyle and entertainment journalist from Long Island. When she's not writing for work, she's writing for fun, or searching for something to satisfy her sweet tooth. She thinks rainy days are the best kind of days. Certified night owl.